Devotion:
For an audio version of this devotion, click here.
Read John 20:19-23.
In this quiet but momentous scene, the resurrected Jesus appears to the disciples behind locked doors. Their fear is understandable—of Roman reprisals, of the unknown, even of their own guilt and shame. But Jesus does not rebuke them. He speaks peace. And then, he breathes.
This breath is no ordinary gesture. It is the very breath of new creation. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” Jesus says, echoing the breath of God that gave life to Adam (Genesis 2:7). Here, Jesus re-creates his followers not merely as believers but as bearers of divine mission. The Holy Spirit is not a passive presence. It is the empowering force of God, equipping these once-fearful disciples to become agents of forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope.
Then comes the astonishing commission: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” It’s a heavy responsibility—one that has been misused in history—but in its core lies a truth: forgiveness is central to God’s mission in the world, and now it is entrusted to us.
This doesn’t mean we forgive from our own strength. It means we participate in God’s work of healing. It means we listen for where grace is needed, and we extend it not because people always deserve it, but because we didn’t either. The Spirit empowers us to speak peace into fear, mercy into guilt, and justice into broken systems.
So, as Jesus was sent, so are we. Breathed upon. Spirit-filled. Forgiveness-bearers. It’s not a safe calling, but it’s holy. And it’s ours.
Personal Worship Option:
Pray this prayer or one of your own choosing: Risen Christ, breathe your Spirit into us again. Make us bold to forgive, humble to be forgiven, and faithful to your mission of peace. Amen.
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